Brush adjusting mechanism for vacuum cleaners



Sept. 4; 1934. v T, H D 1,972,796

BRUSH ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Nov. 14 1952 2 SHeets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, 1934. T. A. SCHAAD BRUSH ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Nov. 14. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES BRUSH ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Theodore A. Schaad, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 14, 1932,- Serial No. 642,675

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjusting mechanism adapted more particularly for use in adjusting the brush of a vacuum cleaner.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an adjusting mechanism of the above mentioned character which may be easily actuated to adjust the brush to its proper or desired position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an adjusting mechanism of the above mentioned character which will be yieldably locked against adjusting movement after the desired adjustment of the brush has been made.

Still further, the invention contemplates the provision of an adjusting mechanism which will be simple in construction and which will nevertheless positively move the brush to the desired adjusted position.

The above and numerous other objects of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away .of a vacuum cleaner in which an adjusting mechanism constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the brush and holder forming a part of the construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the holding means for one end of the brush;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the suction nozzle; and V I Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a portion of the structure forming a. part of the invention.

Referring then particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a vacuum cleaner having a motor casing 10, fan casing 11 and a suction nozzle 12 which is in the form of a fan-shaped housing having the open mouth 13. The vacuum cleaner is, in accordance with the usual practice, supported by suitable ground or floor engaging wheels 14.

Located in the suction nozzle adjacent the open mouth thereof is a brush designated generally by the reference character 15. This brush may conveniently comprise a wooden core 16 suitably covered throughout its length by a metallic sleeve 1'7. Tufts 18 of bristles are anchored in any suitable manner in the core and extend (c1. s-s

throughv the metallic covering, these tufts being arranged in any suitable manner as, for example, the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Suitably mounted in the core 16 and projecting from the ends thereof are spindles 20, and these spindles are journaled in bearings 21 of any suitable construction. These bearings are in turn mounted in holders 22, each holder preferably comprising a cylindrical body portion 23 of a size to snugly receive the bearing 21 and an enlarged mouth 24 surrounded by a flange 25 which surrounds but is spaced from the outer surface of the adjacentend of the brush body.

It will be understood that a holder is associated with each end of the brush, and these holders are resiliently clamped in the nozzle body by suitable spring clips 29 disposed at the ends of the nozzle body. Each spring clip 29 comprises a strip of spring metal bent to a substantially U shape to form a base 30 and the spaced legs 31 and 32. The base may be conveniently secured in position within the housing by a stud or the like 33 which extends through the base and is threaded into the thickened upper portion 34 of the nozzle body. It will be noted that the spring legs 31 and 32 project downwardly toward the open mouth of the suction nozzle.

The spring legs are provided on their adjacent faces with longitudinally extending ribs or protuberances 35. These protuberances extend substantially the entire length of the legs and are adapted to engage the sides of the portions 23 of the holders when the latter are positioned between the legs in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A spring finger 36 may be associatedwith one ofthe clips at one end of the suction nozzle, this spring finger being adapted to engage the end of the adjacent holder to prevent longitudinal movement of the brush and to hold the brush firmly but resiliently in position.

For rotatively driving the brush during actuation'of the cleaner, the fan shaft 40 of the cleaner is extended through the fan housing and into the suction nozzle. A sleeve to the brush adjacent the center thereof, and a belt 42 is arranged to drivingly connect this sleeve to the shaft 40. It will be noted that the belt is turned or twisted intermediate its ends for the 41 is suitably secured reason that the axis of the fan shaft 40 is normal bore, 45 is formed in the upper wall of the nozzle adjacent each end thereof. Mounted in each threaded bore is a threaded stud 46, the end of which extends within the suction nozzle to engage the adjacent holder .22 adjacent the upper surface thereof. The studs 46 are so arranged that by threading the same inwardly they will force the holders 22 and thus the brush 15 downwardly or toward the open mouth of the suction nozzle.

For yieldably restraining the studs 46 against rotation and for thus yieldably locking the adjusting mechanism, there is associated with each spring clip a plate 4'7 having spring fingers 48. Each plate 47 may be conveniently positioned between the base of its respective clip and the adjacent portion of the nozzle housing, and thus each plate may be secured in position by the securing stud 33 for its respective clip. The spring fingers 48 extend laterally to lie on opposite sides of the shank 49 of the adjacent adjusting stud 46, and the shank of each adjusting stud is preferably flattened, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The spring fingers 48 are so shaped as to normally lie close gdjacent the flattened sides of the shanks 49 whe eby these spring fingers will normally prevent these shanks and thus the adjusting studs from rotating. When, however, a suitable tool is engaged with the ends of the studs which it will be noted are accessible from the outside of the nozzle housing, the studs may be rotated, the. spring fingers 48 yielding sufficiently to permit this rotation.

In operation, the brush joumaled in the bearings, which in turn are fixedly mounted in the holders 22, may be mounted in the suction nozzle by engaging the holders between the legs of the spring clips at the ends of the suction nozzle. These spring clips are of suificientlength to still yieldably clamp the holders despite slight adjustment of the holders.

After the brush is in position and as the bristles thereof wear, the brush may be moved closer to the mouth of the suction nozzle by threading the adjusting studs 46 inwardly, the inner endsof these studs engaging the holders 22 to force the. same downwardly toward the open mouth of the suction nozzle. Movement of the brush 15 toward the open mouth of the suction nozzle is opposed not only by the resiliency of the spring clips which engage the holders 22, but is opposed also by the resiliency or elasticity of the driving belt 42, since it will be apparent that as the brush is moved toward the open mouth of the nozzle, the belt 42 is stretched. Thus a positive and accurate adjustment of the brush may be made, and the brush will be positively held in adjusted position after the adjustment has been made.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides an adjusting mechanism which may be utilized for moving the brush of a vacuumcleaner toward the open mouth 01' the suction nozzle as the bristles on the brush become worn during use. The adjusting mechanism comprises a single adjusting stud disposed at each end of the suction nozzle and engaging the adjacent brush holder for urging the latter downwardly or toward the mouth of the suction nozzle. Adjustment of the brush toward the open mouth of the nozzle is opposed by the resillency of the spring holding clips and also by the elasticity of the belt which drives the brush, while accidental rotation of the adjusting studs prevented by spring fingers which embrace these studs and yieldably restrain the same against rotation.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive.

idea. The right is reserved, therefore, to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In combination, a suction nozzle, a brush within said nozzle, means accessible from the exterior of the nozzle for 'moving said' brush.

toward the mouth of the nozzle, and means for guiding said brush during movement thereof by the means aforesaid and for opposing such movement, including yieldable means anchored within the nozzle and straddling portions of the brush.

2. In combination, a suction nozzle, a brush.

means is yieldingly opposed, and the brush is effectively prevented from shifting transversely of the nozzle with respect to the front and rear walls thereof.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle having a downwardly facing open mouth, U-shaped spring clips fixed in said suction nozzle adjacent the ends thereof with the legs of the clips extending toward the open mouth of the nozzle, the adjacent faces of the legs of said clips having longitudinally extending ribs, holders positioned between the legs of said clips and clampingly engaged by the ribs on said legs, bearings carried by said holders, a brush having spindles joumaled in said bearings, a spring finger associated with one of said clips and engaging the end of the holder clamped by its respective clip for yieldably restraining said holder and said brush from longitudinal movement in the nozzle, a pair of studs threaded through the upper wall of said nozzle, one stud being located adjacent each clip and each stud having a flattened shank, the end of which is adapted to engage the holder clamped by the clip with which the stud is associated to urge the holder downwardly toward the mouth of the nozzle when the stud is threaded inwardly of the nozzle, a fiat plate associated with each clip and having spring fingers embracing the flattened portion of the adjacent stud whereby each stud is yieldably restrained from rotative movement, a drive shaft for said brush projecting into said nozzle above the brush, and an elastic drive belt forming a driving connection between said drive shaft and said brush.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle having an open mouth, a rotary brush movable vertically within said nozzle toward and away from said mouth, resilient U-shaped clips within said nozzle straddling said brush, the bases of the U- shaped clips being secured and held against movement relative to the top of said nozzle, the legs of said clips being free and forming guides for said brush, means carried by the nozzle for moving the brush longitudinally of said legs toward the mouth of the nozzle, and means opposing such longitudinal movement of the brush and operable automatically upon release of the means just mentioned to move the brush longitudinally of said legs away from said mouth toward the bases of said clips, including a yieldable driving element for the brush free with respect to the nozzle.

5; In a vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle, an adjustable brush in said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotatable element engaging the nozzle and bearing against said brush, and means for yieldably locking said adjusting means against movement including a member anchored at one end in the nozzle and free at the other, said free end being forked and straddling said rotatable element, the construction and arrangement of said forked end and element being such that said end normally holds the element against movement but is yieldable when the element is subjected to force topermit rotation of said element while in engagement therewith.

6. In combination, a suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable in said nozzle, yieldable means including a drive for said brush urging the brush toward the top of the nozzle,'means free of the brush but operable to move the brush toward the mouth of said nozzle, said last mentioned means extending through the nozzle at the top thereof so as to be accessible from a convenient point outside the nozzle and operable while the brush is within the nozzle to move the brush toward the mouth of the nozzle, and, guide means for the brush including means rigid with the nozzle but yieldingly engaging the brush.

'7. In combination, a suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable in said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotary element bearing against said brush, said rotary element threadedly engaging the nozzle at the top thereof so as to be accessible from a convenient point outside the nozzle and operable from said point while the brush is within the nozzle to move the brush toward the mouth of the nozzle, and means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including means secured and held against movement relative to said nozzle and having yieldable portions engaging said brush at substantially,

diametrically opposite points thereof, one of said portions being apertured to receive the rotary element.

8. In combination, g suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable within said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotary element bearing against the brush, means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including a member straddling the brush, means for holding the rotary element against accidental rotation including a member adjacent the guide member, and a common securing means for said members carried by the top of said nozzle.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable vertically in said nozzle,

means for adjusting said brush, said adjusting means including an element threadedly engaging the nozzle at the top thereof so as to be accessible from a convenient point outside the nozzle and operable from said point while the brush is within the nozzle to move the brush toward the mouth of the nozzle, and means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including resilient U-shaped clips within said nozzle straddling said brush, the bases of the U-shaped clips being secured and held against movement relative to the top of the nozzle, and the legs of said clips being free and engaging the brush at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof.

10. In combination, a suction nozzle, a brush adjustable vertically within said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotatable element engaging the nozzle and bearing against said brush, and means for guiding said-brush during adjustment thereof including inverted U-' shaped clips straddling said brush, the bases of the Us being rigid with the nozzle and the legs of the Us yieldingly engaging said brush.

11. In combination, a suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable in said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotatable element engaging said nozzle and bearing against said brush, said rotary element extending through the nozzle at the top thereof so as to be accessible from a convenient point outside the nozzle and operable while the brush is within the nozzle to move the brush toward the mouthv of the nozzle, means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including inverted U-shaped clips fastened to the nozzle and straddling the brush, and means for preventing accidental displacement of the brush after adjustment has been made including a spring finger fastened to the nozzle and bearing against one end of said brush.

12. In combination, a suction nozzle, a brush adjustable vertically within said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush including a rotatable element engaging the nozzle and bearing against said brush; said rotatable element threadedly engaging the nozzle at the top thereof, accessible from a convenient point outside the nozzle and operable from said point while the brush is within the nozzle to move the brush toward the mouth of the nozzle, and means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including means receiving said rotatable element and straddling said brush.

13. In combination, a suction nozzle, a rotary brush adjustable in said nozzle, means for adjusting said brush, means for guiding said brush during adjustment thereof including inverted U- shaped clips straddling said brush, means fastening the clips to said nozzle, and means suspended from a portion of said fastening means for preventing accidental displacement of said brush after adjustment thereof has been made, including a spring finger bearing against an end of said brush.

THEODORE A. SCI-IAAD. 

